a r t

Who's that
girl?
The makers of “Love Aaj
Kal” sure pulled a fast one
on Indian audiences by
casting a gorgeous Brazil-
ian model as a shy Punjabi
girl. With viewers smit-
ten and intrigued in equal
measure, Anu Gulmohar's
excluisve interview un-
ravels the real face behind
'Harleen Kaur', the lovely
Giselli Monteiro…

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a r t
For just a 19-year-old,
you’ve accomplished a fair
bit. How did you start
modelling?
I left home (Brazil) when I
was 16 and started to pur-
sue modelling in Europe. A
talent agency spotted me
and suggested I travel to
Germany and Paris. With
my height, I guess, they
thought I would be apt for
the runways in Europe.
Has acting been a vocation
that has always beckoned ?
Well, I, always, wanted to
indulge in creativity. But
when you are at such a tender
age as I was when I started
off, all you want to do is work
that you love to do. Fashion,
movies, books have always
interested me and I have al-
ways had dreams of being a
character from either.
What made you choose an
Indian film to debut as an
actor?
The film chose me and I sim-
ply trusted my instinct and
went with the flow like I have
always done in my life. When
something is right, a voice
within simply tells you to
trust and surrender, which is
exactly what I did!
You were very convincing as
a shy Punjabi girl in “Love
Aaj Kal”. How difficult was it
to fit into the character of
Harleen Kaur?
My own personality is very
calm and composed. In fact,
it was fairly easy for me to
identify with the character
because I could relate to her
responses of being in love and
attracted to someone. As for
the magic on screen, I owe it
all to my director Imtiaz Ali
for being such a wonderful
teacher who patiently taught
me every single nuance of
Harleen.
Weren’t you afraid that such
a de-glam look might not
work for you?
Not at all! If my character de-
mands it, I would much rath-
er be beautiful and soulful
than unreasonably ‘hot’ and
mindless.
How do you see yourself
growing as an actor? Do you
plan to do more films in In-
dia?
Oh yes, now this is my play-
ground no doubt and I am
here to stay. India has wel-
comed me with open arms
and I am going to give my
100 per cent and more back
to her. Film offers are coming
in but, yet again, I have a
wonderful team of managers
who will make sure they do
what is best for me, like they
always have.
What have been the high-
lights of your stay in India?
Do you miss Brazil?
Everyone misses ‘home’. I am
no different. But, India is
such a warm place and the
people of Mumbai are simply
the best lot ever. My high-
the sunday indian 54 30 august 2009
lights up until now include
travelling to rural India and
living in the villages of Pun-
jab (whilst filming “Love Aaj
Kal”). The fields are fascinat-
ing and then the life in the
city is a 360 degree turn …it’s
been one exciting journey. I
also travelled to Ladakh…
and that was yet another mys-
tical landscape. If I could I
would capture every single
moment in a picture!
Plenty of men have been
floored by your 'homely
charms' in "Love Aaj Kal".
So, is there a man in your
life? And, while on that,
what are the qualities that
you would look for in a
man?
When some-
thing is right,
a voice with-
in simply tells
you to trust
and surren-
der, which is
exactly what
I did!
giselli monteiro
I am humbled by the re-
sponse my character has gen-
erated. Yes, I am in love. My
boyfriend, Marcos, lives in
Brazil. Qualities in a man…
hard worker, honest and a
wonderful humanitarian.
What is it with Brazilians
and beauty?
You should tell me what it is.
Our country is beautiful, just
like yours. Our ladies are
beautiful, just like yours. It is
all the same…don’t you
think? Beauty lies in the eyes
of the beholder, doesn’t it?
Barbara Mori is another
Latin American actor-model
who’s recently joined the In-
dian film industry. Did you
know her earlier or do you
know her now? What do you
think of her work?
I hadn’t heard of her too
much till I arrived in India
hence, sadly, I cannot com-
ment on her work. But, from
the pictures I have seen, she,
surely, is one marvellously
stunning woman.
Who do you think is the
"I think
hottest Indian actor?
Aamir Khan!
Priyanka
Which Indian actress do you
think could make it big in
Chopra
Brazil?
Priyanka Chopra I would say.
Brazil is supposed to have
good dancers. How different
is dancing in Indian films as could make
compared to back home?
If it is Indian folk music (like it big in
Brazil"
my song in “Love Aaj Kal”)
then it is very different be-
cause the shoulder moves are
not easy if you are not
brought up doing them. But if
it is modern dancing (like in
“Dhoom”) then it’s the same
as in any western country or
film.
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